Ask the Ref

• ernest_t_bass

  

  Just throwing this out there. I'm a varsity basketball official, 10 years experience. I'm opening myself up to any questions you guys may have. Please, honest questions. Leave the "you suck ref" for the games you attend
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Can you really hear what the crowd is saying about you during a dead ball?
  
  And have you ever really wanted to crawl into the stands and kick someones ass during a game?
• ernest_t_bass

  

  We can hear pretty much everything. At least I can. I laugh, and it keeps me focused. If a crowd is ridiculous, then I want to look for that next (obvious) call that is going to quiet them down. No, I won't make something up, but I want to make sure that I KNOW I get the next few calls right.
  
  Never really wanted to kick someones ass, but I've wanted to politely ask people to leave before. OK, maybe not politely
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Yeah I am convinced there are a few people in wach crowd who should watch the game on closed circuit television and that would make everyone's game experience better.
• ricola

  

  didn't know you reffed earnest. what district?
• ernest_t_bass

  

  I'm in the NW District.
• hookshot

  Please explain fully the rule with respect to blocking a field goal attempt AFTER it hits the backboard. I believe the NCAA changed its rule on this but I'm not certain if the NFHS did. Many people do not realize you can block a shot after it hits the backboard, but at what point now is it goal tending (past the height of the rim or on its downward flight)?
• ernest_t_bass

  

  Off the top of my head, I'm going to say downward flight. Give me a few, and I'll look up the rule. If a ball is on it's way up, it is fair game to be blocked. Since I don't see much of that (if at all) it's not one that is fresh in my memory.
• hookshot

  I'm pretty sure the NCAA now says it can be blocked after hitting the backboard but only until it reaches the height of the rim, even if it is not on its downward flight. There are a few differences between the college and high school game, but not many. That might also be an interesting post -- the differences between high school and college rules.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  Looked up the goaltending scenario in the rule book (NFHS). Didn't see anything in there about hitting the backboard. So, if the ball hits the backboard, it can still be blocked.
• hookshot

  I've always known it can be blocked after hitting the backboard -- the only issue/question is with respect to "downward flight" or "above the height of the rim". Sounds like college and high school rules are different now.
• wildcats20

  

  Ernest...How do you personally determine if a flagrant/intentional foul should be called??
  
  Example...At a game this past weekend, Player A fouled Player B, who was going in for a layup, around the neck. He made absolutely no play on the ball and the result was only a 2 shot foul. The ref who made the call looked around at HER assistants and got no reaction so she determined it was only a normal foul. It was a complete joke.
  
  Which brings me to another issue with female refs doing boy's/men's games. But that is totally different subject, that I won't get into on here. lol
• erie warrior

  OK ref, need help with the interpretation of the timeout rule. Team A had possession of the ball but it was knocked out of Team A players hands -- ball is headed out of bounds. Another player on Team A tries to save the ball and while still in the air, coach on Team A calls timeout. It was pretty obvious that Team A was going to lose possession. What is the rule on this. Saw this in Marion - Findlay game Friday night and seems it happens at least a couple times a game. Same goes for scramble on floor and coach calls timeout.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  wildcats20 wrote: Ernest...How do you personally determine if a flagrant/intentional foul should be called??
  
  Example...At a game this past weekend, Player A fouled Player B, who was going in for a layup, around the neck. He made absolutely no play on the ball and the result was only a 2 shot foul. The ref who made the call looked around at HER assistants and got no reaction so she determined it was only a normal foul. It was a complete joke.
  
  Which brings me to another issue with female refs doing boy's/men's games. But that is totally different subject, that I won't get into on here. lol

  These are tough. Both are at the discretion of the referee.
  
  Intentional - Was the defender going for the ball? Was the defender in a legal guarding position? The defender doesn't have to make contact with the ball, but were they going for it? If they were not going for the ball, was there intent to harm, or just intent to foul?
  
  Flagrant (I've never called one) - It is an intentional foul, with the intent to harm. you have to be able to decide that the player actually intended to harm the other, regardless of whether or not they were going for the ball.
  
  Hope that helps.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  wildcats20 wrote:Which brings me to another issue with female refs doing boy's/men's games. But that is totally different subject, that I won't get into on here. lol

  You start the thread, and I'll contribute. Seriously.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  erie warrior wrote: OK ref, need help with the interpretation of the timeout rule. Team A had possession of the ball but it was knocked out of Team A players hands -- ball is headed out of bounds. Another player on Team A tries to save the ball and while still in the air, coach on Team A calls timeout. It was pretty obvious that Team A was going to lose possession. What is the rule on this. Saw this in Marion - Findlay game Friday night and seems it happens at least a couple times a game. Same goes for scramble on floor and coach calls timeout.

  Coach can call a time out when there is team possession. Another thing to take into account, the coach may have called for a timeout before the whistle was ever blown. A lot of times, the whistle will be blown while the ball is rolling around. This makes the officials look bad, but when they HEARD the call for a timeout, there was team possession. Doesn't matter to fans or opposing coaches.
• HSBBR

  ernest_t_bass wrote:

  erie warrior wrote: OK ref, need help with the interpretation of the timeout rule. Team A had possession of the ball but it was knocked out of Team A players hands -- ball is headed out of bounds. Another player on Team A tries to save the ball and while still in the air, coach on Team A calls timeout. It was pretty obvious that Team A was going to lose possession. What is the rule on this. Saw this in Marion - Findlay game Friday night and seems it happens at least a couple times a game. Same goes for scramble on floor and coach calls timeout.

  Coach can call a time out when there is team possession. Another thing to take into account, the coach may have called for a timeout before the whistle was ever blown. A lot of times, the whistle will be blown while the ball is rolling around. This makes the officials look bad, but when they HEARD the call for a timeout, there was team possession. Doesn't matter to fans or opposing coaches.

  Time out can only be granted when there is player control of the ball. Obviously that player is on the team requesting the time out.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  HSBBR wrote:Time out can only be granted when there is player control of the ball. Obviously that player is on the team requesting the time out.

  Doesn't necessarily have to be player control. While jumping out of bounds, there has to be player control. If A1 passes to A2, there is team control, and a timeout can be awarded.
• THE4RINGZ

  

  We lost a game on the road one time by four points.
  
  We were not a physical bang up type team. We were more of a run and gun type team (scoring 90+ PPG)
  
  The end of the game statistics showed we shot two FT the entire game. The other (home) team shot 38.
  
  My question is: Did we get homered by the officials?
• erie warrior

  It very well may have been the coach called timeout when they had possession and the ref didn't signal right away. It looks strange that a timeout is rewarded with the ball going out of bounds and a player is diving for it. Of course we were all yelling.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  THE4RINGZ wrote: We lost a game on the road one time by four points.
  
  We were not a physical bang up type team. We were more of a run and gun type team (scoring 90+ PPG)
  
  The end of the game statistics showed we shot two FT the entire game. The other (home) team shot 38.
  
  My question is: Did we get homered by the officials?

  Would have to see a game tape. Some teams foul more than others, and some teams foul before a shot ever occurs. I don't think that any official intentionally "homers" a team, but many times it looks like that is what is happening.
• BlueDevil11

  

  Team A is passing the ball inbounds from under their own basket. Team A's player gets called for a charge for using his elbow to clear space. Team A has 10+ fouls. The refs gave Team B 2 free throws although they did not have the ball.
  Does Team B get the ball out of bounds or do they get 2 free throws?
• ernest_t_bass

  

  This is not an "offensive foul" because Team A does not have "team control" yet, until the ball is inbounded. There is no team control on:
  
  - Inbounding the ball
  - Free throw
  - When the ball is in flight (on a shot)
  - During a jump ball
• BlueDevil11

  

  So the call was correct?
• ernest_t_bass

  

  Yes, the call (as I'm reading it) looks like it was correct.